"The storm cannot penetrate them" June 26, 2012

Dear Fullmer Family,

How are all of you doing? This week has been a great one in the area and in the mission. All is well! Concerning my tummy troubles no one really knows still what's going on inside. On Friday I was able to have a blood test so hopefully some conclusion will be made about what i need to do to feel better. Thank you so much for the package and for the info on Gluten Free diets. I hope I don't need to go on the diet but if i do I'm glad that there are so many alternatives out there.

Well as most of you know it's transfer week. We went in almost positive that one of us were going to get transfered and "the lot fell on Elder *****"... Man, i've read the first chapters of Nephi way too much... I'm a dork. Anyways, it'll be tough to have him leave since we've become great friends but we know that there are great things to come. I'll find out who my new companion will be tomorrow morning. He's got three more transfers left on his mission. I've got six more... I can't believe that! I'm excited though to work harder and more effective. I looked back in my journals and many memories came back and it hit me how much I've grown in such a short time. When you go day to day you don't realize the difference but I know that I've changed a lot.

Well this past week I was able to go out of the area a little bit and go on some exchanges. On Wednesday and I went to Blue Lagoon. It was a rainy day and we were scheduled to go out on bike. My companion for the day called up a recent convert and he said he's go out with us all day! He's so amazing! He was actually baptized by Elder Reese. If you see him tell him ****** says Hi! He told me one of the dreams that he had about going to the temple. He's so close to the Spirit, and as he described the dream that he had and it was incredible what was in his dream. He kept asking me what it meant and I told him to pray about it. It was really cool. He reminded me alot of the person we taught and baptized. He's going to go back to Cuba soon to baptize his family.

Super cool guy!

The next exchange I had was in downtown Miami. This day it was also POURING RAIN! We didn't have a ride, so i put on my poncho, got on my bike and went at it! We got SoAkEd! It was so much fun! We found some really cool people and had a great time.

As I have been studying the Book of Mormon this past week, I came across a scripture that brought great understanding to me. It is in Alma 26:6. The part that had great meaning where it says, "the storm cannot penetrate them." As I thought about that phrase I made a connection. Missionaries can be compared to three kinds of ships: barges, sailing ships, and ocean liners. Barges need to be dragged, sailing ships are great when the wind and the tide are with them, but ocean liners keep fighting their way through the storms. We need to realize that Satan will do all in his power to slow us down, to cause disappointments, to turn us into barges, or to make our sails go limp.

At these times, our love of God and faith in the Savior will take us through disappointments to our goals. In his final message, Moroni said we must have faith and hope and charity, and that where there is no hope their is only despair. "If ye have faith," he said, "ye can do all things" (Moroni 10:23). I know that when we do what we've been asked to do and not only go along with what everyone else is doing but do it for ourselves it makes the difference. It's amazing as you study the miracles that Christ did in the New Testament how miracles do not create faith. However, Faith creates miracles, in that order. I love this work and as we have faith, and exercise that faith, we can do the will of God daily. I love you all so much! Sorry that this letter is relatively short, but I love you lots!

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Happy Father's Day- Letter 6-15-2012

Dear Fullmer Family,
Thank you for your great letters and it's too bad that the letter never made it to you... I hope it works out in the end. Happy Father's Day Dad! I hope it was a good one. Sounds like that the trip down to Moab was good. I've always wanted to go to Arches NP. I'll have to go after the mish. This week has been pretty good. Unfortunately our investigator didn't get baptized. Her new job that she got changed her schedule last minute and she has to work on Sundays... We're going to try and get it changed so she can get baptized this week. The recent convert we taught, passed the sacrament for the first time yesterday and it was awesome!
He had been practicing all week. He also gave the opening prayer in sacrament meeting and the closing prayer in gospel principles. In the gospel principles class the teacher brought cookies and asked him to
bless the cookies... He looked confused and said, "How can I bless the cookies?" The teacher explained and he went along in the prayer. In the prayer he said, "Por favor bendice los cookies..." He's got a few
english words that he knows and just throws them in now and then. It was great :)

Well this week my stomach has been really acting up so I said, alright I'm going to call the doctor. I called the mission health missionary and she said she didn't know what to do so she called the regional medical doctor and he called me. He asked me all about it and all of my symptoms and he told me he thinks it might be a Gluten intollerance. He's not positive but advised me to start a gluten free diet... EVERYTHING HAS GLUTEN IN IT!!! Haha. It's alright though. To be positive I'm going to be having a blood test this week to be sure of what's wrong with me. So I might have the "funny cow disease" or also known as Siliac (Celiac) (Get it? Silly Yak?) hahaha.... So hopefully everything works out and if you have any food suggestions that don't have gluten they would be appreciated so I don't die :)

Yesterday we gave another musical number in the ward. It went well. We sang "I know that my Redeemer lives." The ward isn't used to having musical numbers and I think they like it. They're all used to having four  hymns every Sunday and we've had many comments how it's a nice change. A member in another ward asked me if I could accompany her to the same song that I played last week for a funeral next Saturday. I don't really want to do it but I accepted. Who knows? We might end up getting someone to teach out of it.

While we were Harvesting yesterday we had a great experience. We were knocking one side of the street and we weren't having any luck... Everyone was rejecting us and we just about changed areas when we came to the end of the street. However we felt like we needed to go to the otherside and keep going. So we did and the first door that we knocked was a woman who is a single mother of two children and since we couldn't come in (mission rules) we talked to her outside and said a prayer with her. She said that we came at the exact right moment. Her life has been very difficult for the past few months and was just about to write a letter to a famous Baptist pastor when we knocked on her door. She accepted to be baptized and we're excited to visit with her on Tuesday.

We had interviews and apartment inspections with President and Sister Anderson this past week. We got the cleanest apartment in the mission award and the nicest washer and dryer in the mission, including the mission home. I don't want to judge but Sister Anderson was on the verge of coveting those babies. Haha. They're really great and I love them a lot!

This morning I was reading Jesus the Christ, my new favorite book and when it was talking about Christ walking on the water there is a quote that I really like. It says, "Into every adult human life come experiences like unto the battling of the storm-tossed voyagers with contrary winds and threateneing seas; ofttimes the night of struggle and danger is far advanced before succor appears; and then, too frequently the saving aid is mistaken for a great terror. As came unto Peter and his terrified companions in the midst of the turbulent
waters, so comes to all who toil in faith, the voice of the Deliverer-- 'It is I; be not afraid'" I really like this because in our lives sometimes we mistake the things in our life that are helping us as things that are against us. But as we continually have the Spirit with us, the comforter, He will testify to us of truth and of the things that are there to help us. I know that the Lord loves and is watching over us. I love you all and I'm grateful for your love that you give me.

Yesterday there was a talk where the youth compared our Father in Heaven sending His son into a world of trouble to fulfill His mission to Fathers sending their sons into the mission field not knowing what's out there. I'm greatful for you Dad and I love you for the trust and the love that you show towards me. Happy Father's Day!
Have a great week!
-Elder David B. Fullmer

June 11th- Jump in a Pool for Me

Dear Fullmer Family,

How is everyone doing this hot summer day? I've heard it's been really hot in Utah and it's also been very hot in Florida! The fun has "only just begun..." Not really looking forward to this summer on the weather aspect. Every single complex that we knock has the most beautiful swimming pool without anyone swimming in it. They're always tempting but I think that's another reason why we have companions because I would probably jump in them! Haha. I hope you're all staying cool, and if could do me a favor, go jump in a pool for me :)

Yesterday was a great day! We were able to have two wonderful meals. The first one was right after church with the ***** family, aka Momma *****. The family is really cool, and very musical at that. Funny story, so yesterday morning I played the piano for another missionary in the ward that meets before us where President and Sister Anderson were speaking. It went really well and I thought I was done for musical numbers for the day... I thought wrong. So about five minutes before our meeting started, the ***** sisters (about 16 and 18 years old) came up to us and said, "we need your help!" Apparently they had a musical number given to them last minute and asked if we could help them. First off they asked if I could play the "EFY medley" on the piano, I said I probably couldn't. It has like three key changes and I can't sight read very well, so then they asked if we could sing it. We sang it in church with them and I have to say it turned out pretty well! We're going to be singing next week in church as well.

Alright, back to the dinners... So we ate at their home and it was delicious. Our 2nd meal was with one of our investigators and his family... Ohh yeah it was in the WHITE HOUSE... Turns out his dad is a multi millionaire. His name is ****** and he graduated in business from BYU and has been taught by YSA for about four years. He turned 30 so we get to teach him now. He's so awesome but for some reason just doesn't want to get baptized. We were able to have a nice meal with the YSA sisters, a member from the YSA who is a friend of ******* and his parents. It was one of the nicest meals I've had, not food wise but just how amazing the family is. They talked about how when ***** was at BYU they would come visit sometimes and say in their second house in Vail, Colorado (by the way we're invited to stay there whenever we want to ski or whatever...) but when they came to Provo the mom said, "I remember when we walked by the temple, I felt something special, like... I can't explain it very well but I felt something... have you ever felt that before?" They are so prepared for the Gospel! They're an incredible family. (I'll send you a picture of the house... you might need to sit down...)

Well this week we're expecting an investigator to be baptized. We had an incredible Family Home Evening with them last Monday where we watched the Restoration at a member's home, (he's the WML). They immediately knew he was a prophet. She's super prepared and we're excited for Saturday. Her husband should be following her shortly. The recent convert is doing fantastic! He's been having a lot of trials with his family and work but he's not losing faith. We know he's going to be a great leader someday so that's why he's having trials so he can grow into the person the Lord wants him to be. He's getting there! :)

That's about all that I've got for now. I love you lots and I know the Lord loves you! Happy Father's Day this Sunday Dad! Too bad that we can't call you but I will be sending you a card. Sorry I never got around to sending you your birthday card ( I actually didn't buy one...) but we can pretend that they're together... (I bought the Father's Day one... it's pretty good :))

Here's a scripture that I really like... It's in Omni 1:26, "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved." I love you all!!

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Onward Christian Soildiers! June 4, 2012

HOLA! Como estais?! Haha. How is the great Fullmer Family doing? I hope and pray that you are all doing well! Everything is going well down here in Florida. We've had a great week this past week. We've found some cool people and went back to some that we dropped a while ago that are now very prepared for the Gospel and are look for a few baptisms either this week or next.

It's been very hot and humid here lately. The mosquitos are biting as well! However we're happy and all is well! Yesterday was Sister ****'s birthday. She is a missionary who's serving in the same ward as me. So I thought it would be perfect to make a cake (I haven't made one in a while.) So I made a chocolate covered strawberry cake. I made two rounds with homemade chocolate cream cheese frosting and put fresh strawberries in between the layers of the cake. Also, with that chocolate that you sent me for valentines that I never used to dip strawberries, I put chocolate covered strawberies all over the cake. It looked good and tasted even better. We had a surprise dinner at a member's home which was really fun. I didn't get to take a picture though so sorry... you can't see what it looked like... Also, Happy 51st Birthday Dad!!! Hope you have a great day tomorrow! There is a card in the mail, sorry that it won't make it by tomorrow but it'll be a little belated so that party keeps on going ;)

This week we've been harvesting more than ever, however our attitude has been changing. It's been harder than ever to get into homes but because of our attitude and our happiness it hasn't seemed that bad. It's amazing what attitude can do. This past week we had Zone Leader Council. I'm the only Zone Leader in the mission who knows how to play the piano and since this was my 4th one I didn't know what songs to play. I asked my companion what songs I should play and he suggested "Onward Christian Soldiers." I have never really played that song before but I told the Assistants the night before that I'd play it.

Well, Sister Anderson loves music when it's sung the right way so I decided that I'm going to play it how it's supposed to sound. The roof of the mission home almost came off because of the way we were singing it and playing it. I was all over the piano :) It was a great way to start the meeting and the Spirit was definitely present. The topic of the Council was about how we need to realize that we are called to diligently declare repentance. The sins of the people we teach are upon our heads if they aren't taught how to repent. He used a scripture from Jacob 1:19. There is always more that can be done.

We went back to visit one of our past investigators who came to church on Easter but hadn't really heard from them since. We went by and the husband was home so we sat down and just asked him some questions. We were talking about baptism and the reason for why we're baptized and he had some questions on his mind. He asked about those who didn't have a chance to be baptized, and what happens to children if they die without baptism and about heaven and hell. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon that answers these questions so clearly. He immediately received a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He and his wife came to church, with his Book of Mormon in hand and we're having a family home evening tonight with them in a member's home. We'll be inviting them to be baptized on Saturday :)

This morning in my personal study I was studying the difference between the word "Savior and Redeemer." The second question in both the temple recommend interview and the baptismal interview is: "Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior AND Redeemer of the world?" I always thought that the two were interchangable but they obviously are different. The word Savior means to save us from something. In the case of Christ he saved us from our sins or in other words paid the price for our sins. But the word redeemer means to help us be like Christ. If Christ only paid the price for our sins, there would be no point for us to come to earth. If we only knew that the mess would be cleaned up, what helps us to stop making messes. If we only knew that the price would be paid, what influences us to live a better life. The redeeming power of Christ helps us to learn and be perfected in Christ. There would be no point to learning the purpose of our trials if we knew they had been paid for, they are here for a purpose. The reason for Jesus Christ is not only to bring us back to the starting line (without sin), He came to help us get to the finish line which not only is the Celestial Kingdom, but it is become like God. It was an incredible study which helped me realize even more the power of my calling. I am called to assist in this work. I am called to do part of the work that Christ did. My study was very humbling and I encourage you all to study the difference between Savior AND Redeemer.

Well I love you all so much! This has been a wonderful week, even though there were quite a few challenges. I know that the Lord is all powerful and all knowing. He knows what we need when we need it, however some things that we need are conditional on our asking for them. I invite you all to ask specifically for the things you need at this time and I promise you He will grant them to you when you need them. Keep me in your prayers :) Have a great week!

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder David B. Fullmer

Here's some pictures of the Ft. Laud Temple and it's progress. We drove past it the other day and I snapped some shots, don't worry since I was driving I had someone else take the pics :) It's coming
along really well! Enjoy!